Diethylphosphite
Diethylphosphite is the organophosphorus compound with the formula (C2H5O)2P(O)H. It is a popular reagent for generating other organophosphorus compounds, exploiting the high reactivity of the P-H bond. Diethylphosphite is a colorless liquid.[1] The molecule is tetrahedral.
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Other names
diethylphosphonite; DEP; Phosphonic acid, diethyl ester | |
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3D model (JSmol) |
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4-01-00-01329 | |
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UNII | |
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Properties | |
C4H11O3P | |
Molar mass | 138.103 g·mol−1 |
Appearance | colorless liquid |
Density | 1.072 g/cm3 |
Boiling point | 50-51 ºC at 2 mm Hg |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
Infobox references | |
Synthesis and properties
The compound was probably prepared in the 1850s by combining phosphorus trichloride and ethanol, but intentional preparations came later. It arises as follows:[2]
- PCl3 + 3 C2H5OH → (C2H5O)2P(O)H + 2 HCl + C2H5Cl
Many derivatives can be prepared similarly.[3][4] Despite being named as a phosphite it exists overwhelmingly in its phosphonate form, (C2H5O)2P(O)H, a property it shares with its parent acid phosphorous acid; despite this many of its reactions are difficult to rationalise without assuming the existence of the following tautomerism equilibrium between phosphorus(V) and phosphorus(III) forms:[5]
- (C2H5O)2PV(O)H ⇌ (C2H5O)2PIII(OH)
Reactions
Alkoxide exchange
Diethylphosphite undergoes transesterification upon treating with an alcohol. For alcohols of high boiling points, the conversion can be driven by removal of ethanol:[6]
- (C2H5O)2P(O)H + 2 ROH → (RO)2P(O)H + 2 C2H5OH
Similarly amines can displace ethoxide:[7]
- (C2H5O)2P(O)H + RNH2 → (C2H5O)(RN(H)P(O)H + C2H5OH
P-alkylation
Diethylphosphite undergoes deprotonation with potassium tert-butoxide. This reactivity allows alkylation at phosphorus:[8]
- (C2H5O)2P(O)H + KOtBu → (C2H5O)2P(O)K + HOtBu
- (C2H5O)2P(O)K + RBr → (C2H5O)2P(O)R + KBr
For converting aryl halides, palladium-catalysis can be employed.[1] The C-P coupling process is reminiscent of the Buchwald-Hartwig amination.
Reaction of diethylphosphite with Grignard reagents results in initial deprotonation followed by displacement of the ethoxy groups.[9][10] This reactivity provides a route to secondary phosphine oxides, such as dimethylphosphine oxide as shown in the following pair of idealized equations:
- (C2H5O)2P(O)H + CH3MgBr → (C2H5O)2P(O)MgBr + CH4
- (C2H5O)2P(O)MgBr + 2 CH3MgBr → (CH3)2P(O)MgBr + 2 MgBr(OC2H5)
- (CH3)2P(O)MgBr + H2O → (CH3)2P(O)H + MgBr(OH)
Hydrophosphonylation
Diethylphosphite can add across unsaturated groups via a hydrophosphonylation reaction. For example, it adds to aldehydes in a manner similar to the Abramov reaction:
- (C2H5O)2P(O)H + RCHO → (C2H5O)2P(O)CH(OH)R
It can also add to imines in the Pudovik reaction and Kabachnik–Fields reaction[11], in both cases forming aminophosphonates
References
- Green, Kenneth (2001). "Diethyl Phosphonite". Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. doi:10.1002/047084289X.rd211. ISBN 0471936235.
- Malowan, J. E. (1953). "Diethyl phosphite". Inorg. Synth. Inorganic Syntheses. 4: 58–60. doi:10.1002/9780470132357.ch19. ISBN 9780470132357.
- Pedrosa, Leandro (March 20, 2011). "Esterification of Phosphorus Trichloride with Alcohols; Diisopropyl phosphonate". ChemSpider Synthetic Pages. Royal Society of Chemistry. SyntheticPage 488. doi:10.1039/SP488. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
- Fakhraian, H.; Mirzaei, A. (2004). "Reconsideration of the Base-Free Batch-Wise Esterification of Phosphorus Trichloride with Alcohols". Org. Process Res. Dev. 8 (3): 401–404. doi:10.1021/op049958v.
- Doak, G. O.; Freedman, Leon D. (1961). "The Structure and Properties of the Dialkyl Phosphonates". Chem. Rev. 61 (1): 31–44. doi:10.1021/cr60209a002.
- Malowan, John E. (1953). "Dioctyl phosphite". Inorg. Synth. Inorganic Syntheses. 4: 61–62. doi:10.1002/9780470132357.ch20. ISBN 9780470132357.
- John M. Read, Yu-Pu Wang, Rick L. Danheiser (2015). "Synthesis of Phosphoryl Ynamides by Copper-Catalyzed Alkynylation of Phosphoramidates. Preparation of Diethyl Benzyl(oct-1-yn-1-yl)phosphoramidate". Org. Synth. 92: 156. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.092.0156.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- Boeckman, Robert K.; Perni, Robert B.; Macdonald, James E.; Thomas, Anthony J. (1988). "6-Diethylphosphonomethyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxen-4-one (Phosphonic acid, [(2,2-dimethyl-4-oxo-4H-1,3-dioxin-6-yl)methyl]-, diethyl ester)". Organic Syntheses. 66: 194. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.066.0194.; Collective Volume, 8, p. 192
- Hays, Hugh R. (1968). "Reaction of diethyl phosphonate with methyl and ethyl Grignard reagents". J. Org. Chem. 33 (10): 3690–3694. doi:10.1021/jo01274a003.
- Busacca, Carl A.; Lorenz, Jon C.; Sabila, Paul; Haddad, Nizar; Senanyake, Chris H. (2007). "Synthesis of Electron-Deficient Secondary Phosphine Oxides and Secondary Phosphines: Bis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]phosphine Oxide and Bis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]phosphine". Organic Syntheses. 84: 242. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.084.0242.
- Keglevich, György; Bálint, Erika (1 November 2012). "The Kabachnik–Fields Reaction: Mechanism and Synthetic Use". Molecules. 17 (11): 12821–12835. doi:10.3390/molecules171112821.